June 30, 2025 • 37 mins
Doug explains what irritates him most about Lebron James opting into his contract with the Lakers for this next season. Doug reacts to the news that the WNBA is expanding at least three more teams in the next three years. Doug welcomes FSR NBA Insider Ric Bucher onto the show to talk about Lebron and all of the other relevant NBA maneuvers. Plus, Dan Beyer takes Doug through a game of "Big Deal, Little Deal or No Deal?".
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
Thanks for listening to The Doug Gotlieb Show podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday three to five,
twelve two Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local
station for The Doug Gottlieb Show at Foxsports Radio dot com,
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Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
M M.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
How are you hey? Hope you had a great weekend.
Hope you listen to my guy Dan Byer yesterday or
throughout last week as he's filling up the radio hours.
He's back with us today. Excited to have dB along.
Of course, you got Jason Stewart as a producer and
my guy I was Sam on the ones and two
(00:48):
is welcome in. Rick Buker is going to join us
about twenty five after the hour. We'll talk a little bit.
Caitlin Clark also a new ad with Katelnar, which I'll
give it my thoughts on. We got a big football trade.
Is Jalen Ramsey's now Pittsburgh Steelers. We got all the
things to get to. Let me start with Lebron. James
(01:10):
rich Paul is Lebron James agent Rich Paul was the
guy who Lebron met, I think selling jerseys out of
the back of his car, right, So he's part of,
you know, starting from the bottom. Now we're here, and
(01:31):
he had this statement to ESPN. Lebron wants to compete
for a championship. Paul told ESPN. He knows the Lakers
are building for the future. He understands that, but he
values a realistic chance at winning it all. We're very
appreciative of the partnership that we had for eight years
with Genie and Rob. Lincoln considered the Lakers as a
critical part of his career. We understand the difficulty in
winning now while preparing for the future. We do want
(01:51):
to evaluate what's best for Lebron at this stage of
his life and career. He wants to make every season
he has left count and the Lakers understand that are
supportive of what of want what's best for him. I
will tell you how that lands with me one word poorly, poorly,
And there are lots of different ways to explain why
(02:16):
it lands poorly, but here's the easiest. You have to
match up your actions with your words. If Lebron wants
to win a championship. Well, then why would you opt
into a deal that pays you fifty three million dollars?
Because ears out really works. If you want to win,
(02:37):
you know, you got to take less so that you
can pay more to go out and get guys on
the free agent market. I mean, and if you want
to guarantee yourself a big fat paycheck, what you can
do is you can backload a contract, do it as
a player only option, and you play a year with
the Lakers and oh yeah, by the way, if you
(02:58):
if it doesn't work out, you want to tire you know,
you had them by their way out of and opt
out or whatever, or you go somewhere next year. There's
a million different things you can do. But you can
say you're appreciative of Genie and Rob Polinka, your actions
are far different because if you're really appreciative, why would
(03:21):
you release the statement. If you really want to win
a championship, why'd you release the statement? How it lands
on me is poorly because it feels like the Lakers
and Lebron has talked about it and he always couches
it with you. I understand. Now we're building around Luca.
This is Lebron James and rich Ball pouting and trying
(03:41):
to exert some sort of leverage that doesn't actually exist.
This is no different than Lebron when he was leaving Miami,
when he was leaving Cleveland the second time, leaking out
there that could be interested in the San Antonio Spurs
who had no interest in Lebron James. Because you can say, hey,
(04:03):
we're really appreciative, but the reality is, are you.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Right? Are you?
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Let me make this clear, over the past year, just
the past year alone, We'll make it thirteen months a year.
Is that Okay? Over the past year, the Lakers have
hired a guy he co hosted a podcast with as
the head coach of the Lakers, and look, I get it,
like I'm not that different from the JJ Reddick higher
(04:36):
but it's the head coach of the Lakers and they
hired him.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
They also drafted Bronnie James and then all made statements
like Bronnie had earned the right to be a second
round pick when that's not even close too accurate. Then
they played Bronnie the first game of the season and
throughout times in the NBA season. Well, give me a
guaranteed four year contract. Despite the fact, he was like,
(05:02):
what the fifty fifth pick in the NBA draft, So
the worst thing they did. And then if you predate that,
they went out and got Anthony Davis. They overpaid for
Anthony Davis. Why he was a rich Paul client. And
(05:24):
when they struck out the first time round, they went
back in the offseason and went after him and got him.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Overpaid for him.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Remember they got Russell Westbrook on the LA Lakers. Why
they were gonna get Demart Rosen. That was the guy.
Well documented, Demarta Rosen was going to be the third guy.
But what happened was Lebron was like, nah, we like
Russell Westbrook better. They overplayed for Russell Westbrook, and then
(05:50):
midway through his first year with the Lakers, Lebron just
did what Lebron does where he doesn't say anything negative,
but he just ignores passive, aggressive moves on and ultimately
they moved off Russell Westbrook. So we overpaid for Anthony Davis,
we trade for Russell Westbrook, we hire JJ Reddick, we
(06:15):
draft and play Browny James. All of these things would
not have happened if not for Lebron wanted none happen.
There's a million other things. And you have fifty three
and change million dollars on a contract and you say
you want to win. And the only thing you say,
(06:35):
after having the opportunity to opt out of that rework
your deal have more money for the Lakers to play with,
is that's great, but we're going to keep our options open.
That sounds like the least no matter. You can say
you're grateful, but it's words, it's actions, not words. And
(06:59):
what you have done and what the Lakers have done
for you is support you the best way possible. Remember
of Lebron's seasons with the Lakers, how many of them
have ended in injury? How many seasons? How many games
does he played in the regular season? You remember when
(07:20):
he started playing a ton of games in the regular season.
That was the year he was going for the all
times scoring mark. And so if you ask Lebron about Lebron,
I get he's the most selfish, unselfish guy there is. Yeah,
he likes to pass the ball, but he likes to
(07:41):
pass the ball because he wants you to score and
get the assist and he wants it to be about Lebron.
His agent tries to make this about Leverage, that they
don't have Look, if you really want to challenge the
Lakers to going out and making it achampionship team, Lebron's
gonna opt out. He's gonna see what the Lakers do.
(08:04):
He's willing to take less money if their plan makes sense.
That's not what he says. He says, we're gonna take
your money and then we're gonna think about what we
want to do in the future. And what this does
is it sours so many people on Lebron James when,
as I've stated previously, in comparison to other star athletes,
(08:27):
right know, off the court, nonsense, none, zero. But there
is a transactional nature to how he approaches playing for
a team. And I've told you guys, since he got
to LA and throughout this process, you can play. He's
gonna play eight years in LA. Lebron James plays for
(08:52):
the Lakers, is not a Laker because what Laker fans
want and what Laker fans desire is Lebron James wants
to do one thing before he calls it a career,
win another championship with the Lakers. And what he said
is I want to win a championship. I don't think
(09:13):
we can do it with the Lakers, So why are
we paying you fifty three million dollars bud?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, By the way, if you don't think Luca is
good enough, then how did Luca get to the finals
without you? The whole thing is a massive contradiction and
a statement of being ungrateful. And there's lots of things
that turn people off and things that turn people on.
The number one thing that turns me off in my
(09:43):
lifetime is people are not grateful. People are not appreciative.
There are no perfect human beings. Either we see the
positive things that people bring or we harp on the
negative things. And if you're appreciative of the positive, it
doesn't mean that the negatives don't exist. But at least
it gives respect for somebody working through whatever they're working
(10:04):
through while giving you the best that they have.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
I just.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
For a guy that has done so many of the
right things. This statement is so about the wrong things
to me, Byer, what do you think of Rich Paul's
statement and how it lands on you as somebody who's
not from La Okay, but you know LA sports fans,
the Lakers, and the sports world at large.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Yeah, this topic is so many different ways to tackle it,
and I am not opposite yours. If you're at noon
or twelve o'clock, I'm maybe at ten o'clock on it.
When I read it, it felt like Rich Paul was
trying to take the narrative away from the Lakers. And
(10:56):
how I read it was prior to the team acquiring
Luka Dancic, it had been all about Lebron stuff that
you laid out, even to the fact of hiring JJ Reddick. Well,
now Luca comes along, and I'm sure the Lakers and
Lebron had discussions about how things are going to go.
But if there was no Luca, why wouldn't Lebron just
(11:17):
sign another one on one deal, get max money for
one hundred and five hundred and six million dollars on
a two year deal and go through this whole charade again.
And I don't mean charade that it's a farce, but
that's what he did last offseason, had the one and
one which allowed him to have this player option that
he opted into. But to me, it seems like he
(11:39):
wasn't going to get his fifty million anywhere else and
at least this offseason, and now it allows teams a
year in advance to maybe look at things, and it
allows them a year in advance to plot where they
want to go next. But I just took the statement, Doug,
is them stealing the narrative of the Lakers saying that
they don't need Lebron anymore. And I compared to a marriage,
(12:00):
there are different types of marriages that span the spectrum.
There are those that are madly in love and madly
in love for fifty years. There are marriages that are
made out of convenience. And this was a convenience marriage
between the two sides, and when one didn't need the
other as much as the other, then it breaks away.
And I felt that that's where the Lakers were coming
(12:21):
from and saying, yeah, that one in one deal not
necessarily great for us. We're not interested. So Lebron will
opt in, get his money and then he can figure
out where he's going to play next and have his
farewell to her.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Then that's how I took this statement.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, you bring up the marriage analogy. It's great if
it's the difference in if you've been married once or
married three or four times, how you view your wedding
day right, how you eet your wedding day, sure, you know.
And if you've been married three times, I mean, I
don't know this one compares to the other one's wedding
(12:54):
day whatever. You've been married one time, you're like, I mean,
it's literally the it's the culminating moment of two lives
joining together, hopefully forever. M hm, you know, and it's
it's it's fascinating. So here's a dude who's been with
a bunch of different teams and it doesn't mean as
(13:17):
much to him, there's not the emotional connection to the Lakers.
But for the Lakers, there's an emotional connection to Lakers.
Remember the Lakers used to play in Inglewood. Inglewood was
known as the City of champions. Only one team played
out in Inglewood. That was the Lakers. The Lakers are
the team known for championships. So you say, like, do
(13:39):
you know how offended hardcore Laker fans are. Right, let
me get this straight. You were our rival and now
you join us. You're a guy who's bounced to several teams.
You're replacing Kobe Bryant, who, though there was a time
he wanted off the team, never played for another team. Right,
(14:02):
Kobe was about one thing and one thing only, and
that's winning, killing anybody in his path. Whether he did
it the right way or not, he did it with
the intent of winning. And again, always was a Laker.
So you're replacing Kobe with a guy who was a
Kobe rival, who's bounced to a bunch of teams, and
throughout his time in LA he has never really bonded
(14:24):
with Laker fans and been a Laker for life. I
never want to go anywhere else. That's what they want
to hear. I think you nailed it. In terms of Luca.
I think Luca is now the star. Lebron's a little
butt hurt over it. Well, you mean I don't get
to call the shots anymore? Like no, dude, right, wouldn't
(14:47):
stun me if there was some conversation about Bryce and
they were like, yeah, the brownny thing, We're good, Sure,
we're good, We're good.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
It's a it seems I don't want to say that,
like a fourle. But there was just so many different
ways that, so many different places you can go with
all of this.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Look again, I'm going to compare it to my job
outside of radio in coaching basketball. Like I don't get
I don't get offended. When a guy they walk in,
they want to they want to go in the portal.
They want to go in the portal. But like, hey,
we helped you with get your move your girl here,
(15:27):
We helped your family. We helped you get into school,
stay in school. We gave you everything. We we got
your thotics, we got you extra massages, we got you
an IV when you were sick. We you know, we
had a tutor come and stay. You know, we did this,
we did that. We blah blah blah blahlah. And you don't.
You can't have an honest conversation about leaving you just
your deuces. You're out like that ain't cool, right, That's
(15:49):
what this is. We overpaid for Anthony Davis. We didn't
want Russell Westbrook. You did, and then you wanted to
get rid of Russell Westbrook you wanted. You ran through
all these coaches you didn't want. Okay, Then we go
and you want to coach, We go hire JJ Reddick.
Then we draft Bronnie James. Okay, now I gotta play
Brian James. We gotta give Bronnie a four year guaranteed contract,
(16:11):
which nobody gets when you're fifty fifth pick in the
NBA Draft before playing a game, but he got one,
Like we did all these things, we went all in
and you were like, yeah, it's cool, LA's fine, it's
fun whatever. And part of it is also the calling
his bluff. They don't think and I don't think he's
going anywhere else. But if he doesn't do a goodbye
(16:34):
tour then yet, dB, I think you are right, he'll
have his goodbye tour somewhere else.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Stug gott Leap Show, Fox Sports Radio. So if you're
old enough to remember the nineties, you're old enough to
remember when the NHL expanded and when NASCAR expanded. Right,
the NHL used to be U Canada and it did
(17:11):
have the La Kings. You did have some other teams,
but they didn't have the Dallas Stars. They didn't have
the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, now the Ducks, the Atlanta Thrashers,
poor little liquor for the Atlanta Thrashers, the Phoenix Coyottes
which are now the Utah Or are they wooly mammoths
(17:34):
or something.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Yeah, mammoth, ye, mammoth. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
The point is that in the nineties Wayne Gretzky moved
to LA and the NHL was on fire. In nineteen
ninety three, I was at Lake Havasu. Lake Havasu is
not actually a lake, but regardless is the Colorado River
where's damned up, but actually lake anyway, And allegedly that's
(18:04):
old London Bridge that the transported. But I thought London
Bridge was falling down, falling down, falling down. That didn't matter. Okay,
point is I was on the lake looking good, sun tanned, sunburned.
Right in high school. Jet skis back with the jet
skis were like stand up jet skis. They were a
(18:26):
lot harder back then. Okay, water skiing. This is before
people wake surfed and everybody got off the lake. Not
for not for a of a of haboob, which is
a desert thunderstorm. No, No, it was for the LA
(18:46):
Kings playing in the Stanley Cup finals. And everywhere Gretzki went,
arinas were packed, things were celebrated. It was on Sports Center.
So what did the NHL do. Hey, we're making money,
let's make more, Let's expand and now they've had to
move these teams around. It's been a little embarrassing, but
(19:08):
generally the NHL has found its footing. Well, I take
you to the WNBA where they want to expand add
what four teams. This is the WNBA that moved from
big arenas to smaller arenas that had to have a
salary cap, and they finally got it all under control
(19:31):
and they went from just hemorrhaging hemorrhaging money every year
and losing teams to all right, they'd stabilized. It's still
lost like forty to fifty million last year as a league,
but generally things are peaking up because of Caitlin Clark.
I just I don't see it. I don't see the
expansion four teams make it so all fourteen teams are thriving.
(19:56):
Less is more packed arenas because what they're gonna do,
and like, look, whoever buys a franchise is gonna have
to throw in a bunch of money. That money will
be spread around, So these owners that have been losing
money are finally gonna have some money in their pockets.
But the game will become more watered down, more water
(20:17):
down means, and are there other good women's professional players. Yeah,
but you know what they also are. They're also foreign born,
which means you're gonna have no different than the NBA.
You have more foreign players, which are harder to relate to,
harder to buy into, don't draw nearly as many people,
and they're not named Kaitlin Clark. Okay, I'm not telling
(20:41):
you that the WNBA can't start to go. Hey, we
got some we got some leverags. Let's get better and
better deals. We got some people watching. Okay, but you
got to build around Kaitlin Clark. And the second you
water it down, maybe you make Caitlin Clark into a
bigger start because she's going against lesser competition. But more
likely there's just more teams that people don't want to watch.
That's that. I got leeb show here on Fox Sports Radio.
(21:03):
We got a bunch to talk about with Rick Buker.
He joins us every Monday. He knows all things NBA.
He works for Fox Sports one. You can just work
at Fox sports dot com. Let me start with Lebron
and the Lakers, right, So, let me get this straight.
He wants to win a championship. He's going to opt
into a deal that pays him fifty three million dollars,
(21:25):
but he wants to win a championship. And it feels
like that statement made by Rich Paul is saying we
can only win a championship elsewhere. How does it land
with you?
Speaker 6 (21:37):
It lands yes, well, I agree with your the the contradiction,
and I just look at it as trying to maintain
leverage for what that leverage may be with the Lakers
or elsewhere. I think it's more appearance sake, Like if
(21:59):
if you present it as Lebron still wants to win
championships and he's looking for how can he still win championships?
And it takes the focus off what you just said,
which is and the question that most people would have,
which is, well, if you want to win championships, how
can you opt into a contract that is going to
(22:22):
pay you more than your worth at least on the
court right now. We can get into the box office
and the draw and all that, but as far as
championships are concerned, if that's first and foremost your priority,
then opting into that contract should not have been the priority.
And I don't know that it's anything more than just
(22:42):
trying to maintain this perspective that the problem with whatever
whatever problem the Lakers have, Lebron is not the problem.
It's that they don't have enough around him. And I
think that that at this stage, combined with Luka Doncic
and Austin Reeves, the way they're currently constructed, it's just
a fallacy. Lebron has a hand in what they have done,
(23:06):
both good and bad, over the last couple of years,
and he's going to be a year older, so I
just I think this is trying to skew perception so
that Lebron doesn't look like he's the one holding things back.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Do you think that will work?
Speaker 2 (23:26):
No?
Speaker 6 (23:26):
I think I think now as the Lakers one, now
that they have their guy in Luca Dogs the guys
that they're building around going forward, I don't they didn't
have much choice. This was this was Lebron's option to
opt into this contract, and I don't know that they
really care all that much what happens a year from now.
(23:48):
If it's the money comes off that he's getting paid,
then I think that they will They will take that.
It's about the best case scenario right now, because you're
not going to trade him. There is no value in
trading Lebron James matching the contract any place that he
would go would be giving up way too many pieces
(24:10):
for a guy who's going to be a free agent
next year. And I'm sure is giving no assurances to
anyone that he's going to stay longer as if you
would want to do that. I mean, that's just the
hard reality is. And I think I saw someone else
reference Bobby Marks might have referenced like, you know, if
(24:30):
he's a free agent, you got twenty nine teams coming
after him. I'm not sure that that's the case at
this stage. I think there are teams that are like,
you know what, we've got our plan, we're moving on.
Would love to have him.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I don't even know if you you know, you could get.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Him at a minimum contract. Lebron just comes with a
lot of other things, and so I think there's there
would be a market, but I don't know that it
would be a bonanza, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I we'll talk about a little bit. We talked about
Alow in the podcast, but I just feel it lands
on me as so ungrateful.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
It just does.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
And here's what I mean. It's like you said, like
if you if you want to win a championship. Okay,
opt out, sign a two year deal, backload the deal
to it it's a player option or a team option
or whatever, and take less this year, try and win
and then if you don't like it. I mean, if
it's about money, you go make money next year or
(25:31):
somewhere else. But hold on, dude, we hired the coach
who you did a podcast with. We drafted your son,
We guaranteed your son four years. We played him, yeah,
his first game when he should have been nowhere near
the NBA. We've we have been over backwards. We traded
(25:53):
for Anthony Davis, gave up the kitchen, saying not because
we didn't want Anthony Davis, but because you want to happen.
I feel like, yeah, this is a it's a power play,
but it's a little bit of pouting of what do
you mean you've moved on to Luca. We're the guy here,
and I just I feel like it feels ungrateful. And
Jays two said, we've talked about this all the time.
(26:15):
I know he's played for the Lakers for seven years,
but especially with this and if he goes and plays
somewhere else at the end of next year, even if
it's Cleveland. He's not going to be seen as a
Laker by Laker fans.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Right, Well, I'm surprised at your surprise because I just
looked through that. I mean, when you've always been accommodated,
as Lebron has always accommodated. This has always worked. And
I don't know that he has demonstrated a great deal
(26:52):
of gratitude in any case. He has approached as if
it is his birth right to get these things and
to be treated a certain way. I mean, like, I
still you know the way he left Miami. He goes
to Miami, he gets over the hump, and he didn't
(27:12):
give Pat a heads up, like Pat didn't know it
was coming when it was coming, and uh, and the
same thing in Cleveland when he left there the first time,
it was like at the last second, Rich Paul called
the Calves and said, hey, yeah, well you know, we're
not We're not, We're leaving. And it puts them at
(27:33):
an incredible disadvantage. So I I guess I just take
it for granted that that's the way that he's going
to operate. But I agree with you, I certainly think
that this puts it puts far more stress on the
on the Los Angeles Lakers, than I would think it's necessary.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Let's let's move away around the lake here, Joannison Tuta Koopa.
Where are he in the Bucks?
Speaker 6 (28:03):
I mean, I honestly, I think he's he is observing
what they are and aren't doing. He wants to know
that they're still trying to make the team better. He
wants to know that there's a plan there. But this
idea that you know, he's he's got one foot off
the door. I just haven't gotten any indication of that.
I think that's wishful thinking. If something dramatic happens where
(28:27):
the Bucks, like I think the Bucks would have to
tell him definitively, you know what, we can't get to
where you want us to get to in short order.
And I don't see them doing that so And I
also don't expect that, like if they're not a championship
contender out of the gate next year, that he's going
to change his mind and say I need to be elsewhere.
(28:49):
I don't get any any indication that he is so
thirsty for sort of on the Lebron James model of
I'm supposed to be playing for a championship every year
and if not, then I'm going to hold it over
your head. I do not get that from you, honest
And if he and if he did do that, it
(29:09):
would be the first time that a international player failed.
He did hold their feet to the fire to get
Damian Lillard's and I think that, unlike a lot of guys,
he recognized, you know what, I had a part in that,
and I might have been wrong about I don't know
how that turned out. And so now he's allowing the
(29:31):
Milwaukee Bucks to do their jobs, and I commend him
for all of that. I'm I am. I will be
thrilled if if my expectation comes comes true, which is
that he's going to stay in Milwaukee because he's won parcel.
He's the reason, at least partly the reason why they
are where they are.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
And to me, if he wins another ring there, or
he chases another ring and he gets them close or
wins one, that will be more than going someplace else
with absolutely no guarantee.
Speaker 6 (30:03):
That he's going to the second one.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
The probably most interesting thing that happened at the draft
was the Ace Bailey deal. Yeah, what are your thoughts
on how that ended up?
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Well, that's a classic, whether it's Danny or Austin that
told the trigger it's an it's an age trademark to say, hey,
I'm going to do what's best and I'm not going
to get let feelings or someone's feelings dictate to me
what we do here. But I think the whole thing
was it doesn't leave me with a good feeling about
(30:41):
Ace Bailey or his representation because while I think he's
extremely talented, the idea that he would prefer going to
the Washington Wizards over the Utah Jazz, I just look
at those two organizations. I go, then, you're not about
what equality, how a quality franchises run like it's about
(31:04):
something else. It's about your roles. And I don't know
that you're good enough to be worried about your role.
I think I might have tweeted it out there that
it gives me cam reddish vibes where supremely, supremely talented
but worried about all the wrong things. And when he's
up there and saying, hey, I don't worry about this.
(31:26):
My team takes care of that and I'm about basketball,
I'm like that gave me the Jay Williams talking about
his brand after he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls
before wrapping a motorcycle around a telephone pole. Dude, the
NBA is hard to be successful in and there is
(31:51):
a handful of guys who come along and are so
so talented. No matter where they go, no matter what
they do, they are going to be a success. And
even those like a Victor Wembinyama, you know, the chances
are better that he's going to fulfill his potential because
of his combination of confidence and humility. So I just
(32:18):
I understand why Utah did it. I think they saw
an asset, they believe that the kid might grow up,
didn't see a better option for where they were picking
and where they're what their timeline is. But I you know,
I'm color me a skeptic of Bailey right now based
on what I've seen.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
He's Rick Buker. He's never short of opinions, but they're
based on over twenty years of covering the NBA. The
guy's the best. Buke Thanks so much for joining us.
We really appreciate it my pleasure.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
It's Doug gotlig Showbotch Sports Radio every day the time.
Maternal Dan Byron say, Hey Dan, let's play a game.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
What's up Dan? What you got Bud? Doug?
Speaker 3 (33:13):
The game today?
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Is big deal, little deal, no deal?
Speaker 3 (33:17):
All right?
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Big deal, little deal or no deal that the Pittsburgh
Steelers seemed to be loading up for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
I think it's a big deal. It's a big deal.
I think I think Mike Tomlin knows, like, hey, being
above five hundred or you know, is not enough, and
you know, they feel like Aaron's got enough in the
(33:43):
tank for one year, so we'll take a couple of
short term deals. I think it's a big deal because
it's not how the Steelers have generally done business.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
I agree with you, and especially too because of what
could happen on the other side is could there actually
be a teardown in Pittsburgh? Sure just doesn't work out? Sure,
all right, Doug? Big deal, little deal or no deal?
That the Athletics says the Bulls and Warriors are the
most likely destinations for or excuse me, the Bulls and
Heat are the most likely destinations for Warriors forward Jonathan Kaminga,
(34:14):
who's a restricted free agent.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Little deal. You know, again, there's something missing there that
Steve Kerr couldn't buy into to play him more until
late in the year. And again doesn't mean the Steve
Kerr is right about everything, but he probably knows him
best because he's seen him since he first got in
(34:38):
the league. I'm gonna say little deal.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
Big deal, little deal or no deal that Caitlin Clark
is injured again, dealing with a groin issue. Now her
status for tomorrow's game against the Links up in the air.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
I mean, it's a big deal. She's the entire league
in terms of what we pay attention to, and she'd
been struggling with her shooting, so you know, shot fieldal
percentage is way down, especially three point percentage, So it's
a it's a big deal when the marquee star is
instead being filled in by the understudy.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
For any any questions on could she be injury prone?
Is this just one of those years where maybe just
something's catch up to you. Did the quad injury does
that force the groin injury?
Speaker 1 (35:27):
I don't I don't know enough. Is it the same
leg Is it all related? Probably all related, right, You're
overcompensating for one and then ee bones connected to the
hip bone, hip bones connected.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
To the right.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Yeah, but she was also playing really well in the
ear and started to start to struggle again. I don't
know enough. I just know that I don't question people
who are hoopers about their injuries. I think that's a bad,
bad look. I'm not questioning her. I just I think
it's bad for the league because they have some momentum
right now, there's nothing else on, but people only want
to watch Caitlin.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Play big deal, little deal or no deal.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
At Ohio State in Virginia will play a non conference
game in men's college hoops on Valentine's Day, smack dab
in the middle of usually big ten and acc play.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
I love it. Look, the downside is and we do this,
we play conference games before Christmas, right. The downside is
that you do you have these bye weeks or bye weekends.
The upside is you can still play intersectional matches, matchups.
So I think it's a little deal because it's happened before,
(36:32):
it'll be a big deal, becomes a trend and lots
of people are doing it.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
All right, finally, Doug, big deal, little deal or no deal?
That Wimbledon started today is a big deal to you.
Little deal.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
There's just I think little deal. I think little deal.
Did I see that Carlos escape from Alcarez? Thank you?
Do you like that Jays did.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Right?
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Yes, it's one of my favorite days in sports.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
I usually tweet about it, but when the grass is
all full, because at the end of the two weeks
there's it's just worn out on the baseline.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Yes, yes, I agree, I agree.
Speaker 7 (37:16):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show. What
you love from the weekend? What'd you hate from the weekend?
Nobody better at hating than Jason Stewart will find out
we all loved and hated.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Next than The Doug Gotlieb Show.
Thanks for listening to The Doug Gotlieb Show podcast. Be
sure to catch us live every weekday three to five,
twelve two Pacific on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local
station for The Doug Gottlieb Show at Foxsports Radio dot com,
or stream us live every day on the iHeartRadio app
by searching app as Booming Up America Doug Gottlieb Show,
Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
M M.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
How are you hey? Hope you had a great weekend.
Hope you listen to my guy Dan Byer yesterday or
throughout last week as he's filling up the radio hours.
He's back with us today. Excited to have dB along.
Of course, you got Jason Stewart as a producer and
my guy I was Sam on the ones and two
(00:48):
is welcome in. Rick Buker is going to join us
about twenty five after the hour. We'll talk a little bit.
Caitlin Clark also a new ad with Katelnar, which I'll
give it my thoughts on. We got a big football trade.
Is Jalen Ramsey's now Pittsburgh Steelers. We got all the
things to get to. Let me start with Lebron. James
(01:10):
rich Paul is Lebron James agent Rich Paul was the
guy who Lebron met, I think selling jerseys out of
the back of his car, right, So he's part of,
you know, starting from the bottom. Now we're here, and
(01:31):
he had this statement to ESPN. Lebron wants to compete
for a championship. Paul told ESPN. He knows the Lakers
are building for the future. He understands that, but he
values a realistic chance at winning it all. We're very
appreciative of the partnership that we had for eight years
with Genie and Rob. Lincoln considered the Lakers as a
critical part of his career. We understand the difficulty in
winning now while preparing for the future. We do want
(01:51):
to evaluate what's best for Lebron at this stage of
his life and career. He wants to make every season
he has left count and the Lakers understand that are
supportive of what of want what's best for him. I
will tell you how that lands with me one word poorly, poorly,
And there are lots of different ways to explain why
(02:16):
it lands poorly, but here's the easiest. You have to
match up your actions with your words. If Lebron wants
to win a championship. Well, then why would you opt
into a deal that pays you fifty three million dollars?
Because ears out really works. If you want to win,
(02:37):
you know, you got to take less so that you
can pay more to go out and get guys on
the free agent market. I mean, and if you want
to guarantee yourself a big fat paycheck, what you can
do is you can backload a contract, do it as
a player only option, and you play a year with
the Lakers and oh yeah, by the way, if you
(02:58):
if it doesn't work out, you want to tire you know,
you had them by their way out of and opt
out or whatever, or you go somewhere next year. There's
a million different things you can do. But you can
say you're appreciative of Genie and Rob Polinka, your actions
are far different because if you're really appreciative, why would
(03:21):
you release the statement. If you really want to win
a championship, why'd you release the statement? How it lands
on me is poorly because it feels like the Lakers
and Lebron has talked about it and he always couches
it with you. I understand. Now we're building around Luca.
This is Lebron James and rich Ball pouting and trying
(03:41):
to exert some sort of leverage that doesn't actually exist.
This is no different than Lebron when he was leaving Miami,
when he was leaving Cleveland the second time, leaking out
there that could be interested in the San Antonio Spurs
who had no interest in Lebron James. Because you can say, hey,
(04:03):
we're really appreciative, but the reality is, are you.
Speaker 3 (04:08):
Right? Are you?
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Let me make this clear, over the past year, just
the past year alone, We'll make it thirteen months a year.
Is that Okay? Over the past year, the Lakers have
hired a guy he co hosted a podcast with as
the head coach of the Lakers, and look, I get it,
like I'm not that different from the JJ Reddick higher
(04:36):
but it's the head coach of the Lakers and they
hired him.
Speaker 3 (04:40):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
They also drafted Bronnie James and then all made statements
like Bronnie had earned the right to be a second
round pick when that's not even close too accurate. Then
they played Bronnie the first game of the season and
throughout times in the NBA season. Well, give me a
guaranteed four year contract. Despite the fact, he was like,
(05:02):
what the fifty fifth pick in the NBA draft, So
the worst thing they did. And then if you predate that,
they went out and got Anthony Davis. They overpaid for
Anthony Davis. Why he was a rich Paul client. And
(05:24):
when they struck out the first time round, they went
back in the offseason and went after him and got him.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
Overpaid for him.
Speaker 1 (05:29):
Remember they got Russell Westbrook on the LA Lakers. Why
they were gonna get Demart Rosen. That was the guy.
Well documented, Demarta Rosen was going to be the third guy.
But what happened was Lebron was like, nah, we like
Russell Westbrook better. They overplayed for Russell Westbrook, and then
(05:50):
midway through his first year with the Lakers, Lebron just
did what Lebron does where he doesn't say anything negative,
but he just ignores passive, aggressive moves on and ultimately
they moved off Russell Westbrook. So we overpaid for Anthony Davis,
we trade for Russell Westbrook, we hire JJ Reddick, we
(06:15):
draft and play Browny James. All of these things would
not have happened if not for Lebron wanted none happen.
There's a million other things. And you have fifty three
and change million dollars on a contract and you say
you want to win. And the only thing you say,
(06:35):
after having the opportunity to opt out of that rework
your deal have more money for the Lakers to play with,
is that's great, but we're going to keep our options open.
That sounds like the least no matter. You can say
you're grateful, but it's words, it's actions, not words. And
(06:59):
what you have done and what the Lakers have done
for you is support you the best way possible. Remember
of Lebron's seasons with the Lakers, how many of them
have ended in injury? How many seasons? How many games
does he played in the regular season? You remember when
(07:20):
he started playing a ton of games in the regular season.
That was the year he was going for the all
times scoring mark. And so if you ask Lebron about Lebron,
I get he's the most selfish, unselfish guy there is. Yeah,
he likes to pass the ball, but he likes to
(07:41):
pass the ball because he wants you to score and
get the assist and he wants it to be about Lebron.
His agent tries to make this about Leverage, that they
don't have Look, if you really want to challenge the
Lakers to going out and making it achampionship team, Lebron's
gonna opt out. He's gonna see what the Lakers do.
(08:04):
He's willing to take less money if their plan makes sense.
That's not what he says. He says, we're gonna take
your money and then we're gonna think about what we
want to do in the future. And what this does
is it sours so many people on Lebron James when,
as I've stated previously, in comparison to other star athletes,
(08:27):
right know, off the court, nonsense, none, zero. But there
is a transactional nature to how he approaches playing for
a team. And I've told you guys, since he got
to LA and throughout this process, you can play. He's
gonna play eight years in LA. Lebron James plays for
(08:52):
the Lakers, is not a Laker because what Laker fans
want and what Laker fans desire is Lebron James wants
to do one thing before he calls it a career,
win another championship with the Lakers. And what he said
is I want to win a championship. I don't think
(09:13):
we can do it with the Lakers, So why are
we paying you fifty three million dollars bud?
Speaker 2 (09:21):
Oh?
Speaker 1 (09:21):
Yeah, By the way, if you don't think Luca is
good enough, then how did Luca get to the finals
without you? The whole thing is a massive contradiction and
a statement of being ungrateful. And there's lots of things
that turn people off and things that turn people on.
The number one thing that turns me off in my
(09:43):
lifetime is people are not grateful. People are not appreciative.
There are no perfect human beings. Either we see the
positive things that people bring or we harp on the
negative things. And if you're appreciative of the positive, it
doesn't mean that the negatives don't exist. But at least
it gives respect for somebody working through whatever they're working
(10:04):
through while giving you the best that they have.
Speaker 3 (10:09):
I just.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
For a guy that has done so many of the
right things. This statement is so about the wrong things
to me, Byer, what do you think of Rich Paul's
statement and how it lands on you as somebody who's
not from La Okay, but you know LA sports fans,
the Lakers, and the sports world at large.
Speaker 4 (10:33):
Yeah, this topic is so many different ways to tackle it,
and I am not opposite yours. If you're at noon
or twelve o'clock, I'm maybe at ten o'clock on it.
When I read it, it felt like Rich Paul was
trying to take the narrative away from the Lakers. And
(10:56):
how I read it was prior to the team acquiring
Luka Dancic, it had been all about Lebron stuff that
you laid out, even to the fact of hiring JJ Reddick. Well,
now Luca comes along, and I'm sure the Lakers and
Lebron had discussions about how things are going to go.
But if there was no Luca, why wouldn't Lebron just
(11:17):
sign another one on one deal, get max money for
one hundred and five hundred and six million dollars on
a two year deal and go through this whole charade again.
And I don't mean charade that it's a farce, but
that's what he did last offseason, had the one and
one which allowed him to have this player option that
he opted into. But to me, it seems like he
(11:39):
wasn't going to get his fifty million anywhere else and
at least this offseason, and now it allows teams a
year in advance to maybe look at things, and it
allows them a year in advance to plot where they
want to go next. But I just took the statement, Doug,
is them stealing the narrative of the Lakers saying that
they don't need Lebron anymore. And I compared to a marriage,
(12:00):
there are different types of marriages that span the spectrum.
There are those that are madly in love and madly
in love for fifty years. There are marriages that are
made out of convenience. And this was a convenience marriage
between the two sides, and when one didn't need the
other as much as the other, then it breaks away.
And I felt that that's where the Lakers were coming
(12:21):
from and saying, yeah, that one in one deal not
necessarily great for us. We're not interested. So Lebron will
opt in, get his money and then he can figure
out where he's going to play next and have his
farewell to her.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Then that's how I took this statement.
Speaker 1 (12:34):
Yeah, you bring up the marriage analogy. It's great if
it's the difference in if you've been married once or
married three or four times, how you view your wedding
day right, how you eet your wedding day, sure, you know.
And if you've been married three times, I mean, I
don't know this one compares to the other one's wedding
(12:54):
day whatever. You've been married one time, you're like, I mean,
it's literally the it's the culminating moment of two lives
joining together, hopefully forever. M hm, you know, and it's
it's it's fascinating. So here's a dude who's been with
a bunch of different teams and it doesn't mean as
(13:17):
much to him, there's not the emotional connection to the Lakers.
But for the Lakers, there's an emotional connection to Lakers.
Remember the Lakers used to play in Inglewood. Inglewood was
known as the City of champions. Only one team played
out in Inglewood. That was the Lakers. The Lakers are
the team known for championships. So you say, like, do
(13:39):
you know how offended hardcore Laker fans are. Right, let
me get this straight. You were our rival and now
you join us. You're a guy who's bounced to several teams.
You're replacing Kobe Bryant, who, though there was a time
he wanted off the team, never played for another team. Right,
(14:02):
Kobe was about one thing and one thing only, and
that's winning, killing anybody in his path. Whether he did
it the right way or not, he did it with
the intent of winning. And again, always was a Laker.
So you're replacing Kobe with a guy who was a
Kobe rival, who's bounced to a bunch of teams, and
throughout his time in LA he has never really bonded
(14:24):
with Laker fans and been a Laker for life. I
never want to go anywhere else. That's what they want
to hear. I think you nailed it. In terms of Luca.
I think Luca is now the star. Lebron's a little
butt hurt over it. Well, you mean I don't get
to call the shots anymore? Like no, dude, right, wouldn't
(14:47):
stun me if there was some conversation about Bryce and
they were like, yeah, the brownny thing, We're good, Sure,
we're good, We're good.
Speaker 4 (14:57):
It's a it seems I don't want to say that,
like a fourle. But there was just so many different
ways that, so many different places you can go with
all of this.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Look again, I'm going to compare it to my job
outside of radio in coaching basketball. Like I don't get
I don't get offended. When a guy they walk in,
they want to they want to go in the portal.
They want to go in the portal. But like, hey,
we helped you with get your move your girl here,
(15:27):
We helped your family. We helped you get into school,
stay in school. We gave you everything. We we got
your thotics, we got you extra massages, we got you
an IV when you were sick. We you know, we
had a tutor come and stay. You know, we did this,
we did that. We blah blah blah blahlah. And you don't.
You can't have an honest conversation about leaving you just
your deuces. You're out like that ain't cool, right, That's
(15:49):
what this is. We overpaid for Anthony Davis. We didn't
want Russell Westbrook. You did, and then you wanted to
get rid of Russell Westbrook you wanted. You ran through
all these coaches you didn't want. Okay, Then we go
and you want to coach, We go hire JJ Reddick.
Then we draft Bronnie James. Okay, now I gotta play
Brian James. We gotta give Bronnie a four year guaranteed contract,
(16:11):
which nobody gets when you're fifty fifth pick in the
NBA Draft before playing a game, but he got one,
Like we did all these things, we went all in
and you were like, yeah, it's cool, LA's fine, it's
fun whatever. And part of it is also the calling
his bluff. They don't think and I don't think he's
going anywhere else. But if he doesn't do a goodbye
(16:34):
tour then yet, dB, I think you are right, he'll
have his goodbye tour somewhere else.
Speaker 5 (16:38):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio in the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 1 (16:49):
Stug gott Leap Show, Fox Sports Radio. So if you're
old enough to remember the nineties, you're old enough to
remember when the NHL expanded and when NASCAR expanded. Right,
the NHL used to be U Canada and it did
(17:11):
have the La Kings. You did have some other teams,
but they didn't have the Dallas Stars. They didn't have
the Anaheim Mighty Ducks, now the Ducks, the Atlanta Thrashers,
poor little liquor for the Atlanta Thrashers, the Phoenix Coyottes
which are now the Utah Or are they wooly mammoths
(17:34):
or something.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Yeah, mammoth, ye, mammoth. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (17:43):
The point is that in the nineties Wayne Gretzky moved
to LA and the NHL was on fire. In nineteen
ninety three, I was at Lake Havasu. Lake Havasu is
not actually a lake, but regardless is the Colorado River
where's damned up, but actually lake anyway, And allegedly that's
(18:04):
old London Bridge that the transported. But I thought London
Bridge was falling down, falling down, falling down. That didn't matter. Okay,
point is I was on the lake looking good, sun tanned, sunburned.
Right in high school. Jet skis back with the jet
skis were like stand up jet skis. They were a
(18:26):
lot harder back then. Okay, water skiing. This is before
people wake surfed and everybody got off the lake. Not
for not for a of a of haboob, which is
a desert thunderstorm. No, No, it was for the LA
(18:46):
Kings playing in the Stanley Cup finals. And everywhere Gretzki went,
arinas were packed, things were celebrated. It was on Sports Center.
So what did the NHL do. Hey, we're making money,
let's make more, Let's expand and now they've had to
move these teams around. It's been a little embarrassing, but
(19:08):
generally the NHL has found its footing. Well, I take
you to the WNBA where they want to expand add
what four teams. This is the WNBA that moved from
big arenas to smaller arenas that had to have a
salary cap, and they finally got it all under control
(19:31):
and they went from just hemorrhaging hemorrhaging money every year
and losing teams to all right, they'd stabilized. It's still
lost like forty to fifty million last year as a league,
but generally things are peaking up because of Caitlin Clark.
I just I don't see it. I don't see the
expansion four teams make it so all fourteen teams are thriving.
(19:56):
Less is more packed arenas because what they're gonna do,
and like, look, whoever buys a franchise is gonna have
to throw in a bunch of money. That money will
be spread around, So these owners that have been losing
money are finally gonna have some money in their pockets.
But the game will become more watered down, more water
(20:17):
down means, and are there other good women's professional players. Yeah,
but you know what they also are. They're also foreign born,
which means you're gonna have no different than the NBA.
You have more foreign players, which are harder to relate to,
harder to buy into, don't draw nearly as many people,
and they're not named Kaitlin Clark. Okay, I'm not telling
(20:41):
you that the WNBA can't start to go. Hey, we
got some we got some leverags. Let's get better and
better deals. We got some people watching. Okay, but you
got to build around Kaitlin Clark. And the second you
water it down, maybe you make Caitlin Clark into a
bigger start because she's going against lesser competition. But more
likely there's just more teams that people don't want to watch.
That's that. I got leeb show here on Fox Sports Radio.
(21:03):
We got a bunch to talk about with Rick Buker.
He joins us every Monday. He knows all things NBA.
He works for Fox Sports one. You can just work
at Fox sports dot com. Let me start with Lebron
and the Lakers, right, So, let me get this straight.
He wants to win a championship. He's going to opt
into a deal that pays him fifty three million dollars,
(21:25):
but he wants to win a championship. And it feels
like that statement made by Rich Paul is saying we
can only win a championship elsewhere. How does it land
with you?
Speaker 6 (21:37):
It lands yes, well, I agree with your the the contradiction,
and I just look at it as trying to maintain
leverage for what that leverage may be with the Lakers
or elsewhere. I think it's more appearance sake, Like if
(21:59):
if you present it as Lebron still wants to win
championships and he's looking for how can he still win championships?
And it takes the focus off what you just said,
which is and the question that most people would have,
which is, well, if you want to win championships, how
can you opt into a contract that is going to
(22:22):
pay you more than your worth at least on the
court right now. We can get into the box office
and the draw and all that, but as far as
championships are concerned, if that's first and foremost your priority,
then opting into that contract should not have been the priority.
And I don't know that it's anything more than just
(22:42):
trying to maintain this perspective that the problem with whatever
whatever problem the Lakers have, Lebron is not the problem.
It's that they don't have enough around him. And I
think that that at this stage, combined with Luka Doncic
and Austin Reeves, the way they're currently constructed, it's just
a fallacy. Lebron has a hand in what they have done,
(23:06):
both good and bad, over the last couple of years,
and he's going to be a year older, so I
just I think this is trying to skew perception so
that Lebron doesn't look like he's the one holding things back.
Speaker 1 (23:23):
Do you think that will work?
Speaker 2 (23:26):
No?
Speaker 6 (23:26):
I think I think now as the Lakers one, now
that they have their guy in Luca Dogs the guys
that they're building around going forward, I don't they didn't
have much choice. This was this was Lebron's option to
opt into this contract, and I don't know that they
really care all that much what happens a year from now.
(23:48):
If it's the money comes off that he's getting paid,
then I think that they will They will take that.
It's about the best case scenario right now, because you're
not going to trade him. There is no value in
trading Lebron James matching the contract any place that he
would go would be giving up way too many pieces
(24:10):
for a guy who's going to be a free agent
next year. And I'm sure is giving no assurances to
anyone that he's going to stay longer as if you
would want to do that. I mean, that's just the
hard reality is. And I think I saw someone else
reference Bobby Marks might have referenced like, you know, if
(24:30):
he's a free agent, you got twenty nine teams coming
after him. I'm not sure that that's the case at
this stage. I think there are teams that are like,
you know what, we've got our plan, we're moving on.
Would love to have him.
Speaker 2 (24:43):
I don't even know if you you know, you could get.
Speaker 6 (24:44):
Him at a minimum contract. Lebron just comes with a
lot of other things, and so I think there's there
would be a market, but I don't know that it
would be a bonanza, you know.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
I we'll talk about a little bit. We talked about
Alow in the podcast, but I just feel it lands
on me as so ungrateful.
Speaker 3 (25:08):
It just does.
Speaker 1 (25:10):
And here's what I mean. It's like you said, like
if you if you want to win a championship. Okay,
opt out, sign a two year deal, backload the deal
to it it's a player option or a team option
or whatever, and take less this year, try and win
and then if you don't like it. I mean, if
it's about money, you go make money next year or
(25:31):
somewhere else. But hold on, dude, we hired the coach
who you did a podcast with. We drafted your son,
We guaranteed your son four years. We played him, yeah,
his first game when he should have been nowhere near
the NBA. We've we have been over backwards. We traded
(25:53):
for Anthony Davis, gave up the kitchen, saying not because
we didn't want Anthony Davis, but because you want to happen.
I feel like, yeah, this is a it's a power play,
but it's a little bit of pouting of what do
you mean you've moved on to Luca. We're the guy here,
and I just I feel like it feels ungrateful. And
Jays two said, we've talked about this all the time.
(26:15):
I know he's played for the Lakers for seven years,
but especially with this and if he goes and plays
somewhere else at the end of next year, even if
it's Cleveland. He's not going to be seen as a
Laker by Laker fans.
Speaker 6 (26:30):
Right, Well, I'm surprised at your surprise because I just
looked through that. I mean, when you've always been accommodated,
as Lebron has always accommodated. This has always worked. And
I don't know that he has demonstrated a great deal
(26:52):
of gratitude in any case. He has approached as if
it is his birth right to get these things and
to be treated a certain way. I mean, like, I
still you know the way he left Miami. He goes
to Miami, he gets over the hump, and he didn't
(27:12):
give Pat a heads up, like Pat didn't know it
was coming when it was coming, and uh, and the
same thing in Cleveland when he left there the first time,
it was like at the last second, Rich Paul called
the Calves and said, hey, yeah, well you know, we're
not We're not, We're leaving. And it puts them at
(27:33):
an incredible disadvantage. So I I guess I just take
it for granted that that's the way that he's going
to operate. But I agree with you, I certainly think
that this puts it puts far more stress on the
on the Los Angeles Lakers, than I would think it's necessary.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
Let's let's move away around the lake here, Joannison Tuta Koopa.
Where are he in the Bucks?
Speaker 6 (28:03):
I mean, I honestly, I think he's he is observing
what they are and aren't doing. He wants to know
that they're still trying to make the team better. He
wants to know that there's a plan there. But this
idea that you know, he's he's got one foot off
the door. I just haven't gotten any indication of that.
I think that's wishful thinking. If something dramatic happens where
(28:27):
the Bucks, like I think the Bucks would have to
tell him definitively, you know what, we can't get to
where you want us to get to in short order.
And I don't see them doing that so And I
also don't expect that, like if they're not a championship
contender out of the gate next year, that he's going
to change his mind and say I need to be elsewhere.
(28:49):
I don't get any any indication that he is so
thirsty for sort of on the Lebron James model of
I'm supposed to be playing for a championship every year
and if not, then I'm going to hold it over
your head. I do not get that from you, honest
And if he and if he did do that, it
(29:09):
would be the first time that a international player failed.
He did hold their feet to the fire to get
Damian Lillard's and I think that, unlike a lot of guys,
he recognized, you know what, I had a part in that,
and I might have been wrong about I don't know
how that turned out. And so now he's allowing the
(29:31):
Milwaukee Bucks to do their jobs, and I commend him
for all of that. I'm I am. I will be
thrilled if if my expectation comes comes true, which is
that he's going to stay in Milwaukee because he's won parcel.
He's the reason, at least partly the reason why they
are where they are.
Speaker 2 (29:51):
And to me, if he wins another ring there, or
he chases another ring and he gets them close or
wins one, that will be more than going someplace else
with absolutely no guarantee.
Speaker 6 (30:03):
That he's going to the second one.
Speaker 1 (30:07):
The probably most interesting thing that happened at the draft
was the Ace Bailey deal. Yeah, what are your thoughts
on how that ended up?
Speaker 6 (30:17):
Well, that's a classic, whether it's Danny or Austin that
told the trigger it's an it's an age trademark to say, hey,
I'm going to do what's best and I'm not going
to get let feelings or someone's feelings dictate to me
what we do here. But I think the whole thing
was it doesn't leave me with a good feeling about
(30:41):
Ace Bailey or his representation because while I think he's
extremely talented, the idea that he would prefer going to
the Washington Wizards over the Utah Jazz, I just look
at those two organizations. I go, then, you're not about
what equality, how a quality franchises run like it's about
(31:04):
something else. It's about your roles. And I don't know
that you're good enough to be worried about your role.
I think I might have tweeted it out there that
it gives me cam reddish vibes where supremely, supremely talented
but worried about all the wrong things. And when he's
up there and saying, hey, I don't worry about this.
(31:26):
My team takes care of that and I'm about basketball,
I'm like that gave me the Jay Williams talking about
his brand after he was drafted by the Chicago Bulls
before wrapping a motorcycle around a telephone pole. Dude, the
NBA is hard to be successful in and there is
(31:51):
a handful of guys who come along and are so
so talented. No matter where they go, no matter what
they do, they are going to be a success. And
even those like a Victor Wembinyama, you know, the chances
are better that he's going to fulfill his potential because
of his combination of confidence and humility. So I just
(32:18):
I understand why Utah did it. I think they saw
an asset, they believe that the kid might grow up,
didn't see a better option for where they were picking
and where they're what their timeline is. But I you know,
I'm color me a skeptic of Bailey right now based
on what I've seen.
Speaker 1 (32:39):
He's Rick Buker. He's never short of opinions, but they're
based on over twenty years of covering the NBA. The
guy's the best. Buke Thanks so much for joining us.
We really appreciate it my pleasure.
Speaker 5 (32:49):
Be sure to catch the live edition of The Doug
Gottlieb Show weekdays at three pm Eastern noon Pacific.
Speaker 1 (32:57):
It's Doug gotlig Showbotch Sports Radio every day the time.
Maternal Dan Byron say, Hey Dan, let's play a game.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
What's up Dan? What you got Bud? Doug?
Speaker 3 (33:13):
The game today?
Speaker 5 (33:14):
Is big deal, little deal, no deal?
Speaker 3 (33:17):
All right?
Speaker 4 (33:18):
Big deal, little deal or no deal that the Pittsburgh
Steelers seemed to be loading up for twenty twenty five.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
I think it's a big deal. It's a big deal.
I think I think Mike Tomlin knows, like, hey, being
above five hundred or you know, is not enough, and
you know, they feel like Aaron's got enough in the
(33:43):
tank for one year, so we'll take a couple of
short term deals. I think it's a big deal because
it's not how the Steelers have generally done business.
Speaker 3 (33:53):
Correct.
Speaker 4 (33:54):
I agree with you, and especially too because of what
could happen on the other side is could there actually
be a teardown in Pittsburgh? Sure just doesn't work out? Sure,
all right, Doug? Big deal, little deal or no deal?
That the Athletics says the Bulls and Warriors are the
most likely destinations for or excuse me, the Bulls and
Heat are the most likely destinations for Warriors forward Jonathan Kaminga,
(34:14):
who's a restricted free agent.
Speaker 1 (34:17):
Little deal. You know, again, there's something missing there that
Steve Kerr couldn't buy into to play him more until
late in the year. And again doesn't mean the Steve
Kerr is right about everything, but he probably knows him
best because he's seen him since he first got in
(34:38):
the league. I'm gonna say little deal.
Speaker 4 (34:41):
Big deal, little deal or no deal that Caitlin Clark
is injured again, dealing with a groin issue. Now her
status for tomorrow's game against the Links up in the air.
Speaker 1 (34:50):
I mean, it's a big deal. She's the entire league
in terms of what we pay attention to, and she'd
been struggling with her shooting, so you know, shot fieldal
percentage is way down, especially three point percentage, So it's
a it's a big deal when the marquee star is
instead being filled in by the understudy.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
For any any questions on could she be injury prone?
Is this just one of those years where maybe just
something's catch up to you. Did the quad injury does
that force the groin injury?
Speaker 1 (35:27):
I don't I don't know enough. Is it the same
leg Is it all related? Probably all related, right, You're
overcompensating for one and then ee bones connected to the
hip bone, hip bones connected.
Speaker 3 (35:34):
To the right.
Speaker 1 (35:39):
Yeah, but she was also playing really well in the
ear and started to start to struggle again. I don't
know enough. I just know that I don't question people
who are hoopers about their injuries. I think that's a bad,
bad look. I'm not questioning her. I just I think
it's bad for the league because they have some momentum
right now, there's nothing else on, but people only want
to watch Caitlin.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Play big deal, little deal or no deal.
Speaker 4 (36:01):
At Ohio State in Virginia will play a non conference
game in men's college hoops on Valentine's Day, smack dab
in the middle of usually big ten and acc play.
Speaker 1 (36:11):
I love it. Look, the downside is and we do this,
we play conference games before Christmas, right. The downside is
that you do you have these bye weeks or bye weekends.
The upside is you can still play intersectional matches, matchups.
So I think it's a little deal because it's happened before,
(36:32):
it'll be a big deal, becomes a trend and lots
of people are doing it.
Speaker 4 (36:35):
All right, finally, Doug, big deal, little deal or no deal?
That Wimbledon started today is a big deal to you.
Little deal.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
There's just I think little deal. I think little deal.
Did I see that Carlos escape from Alcarez? Thank you?
Do you like that Jays did.
Speaker 2 (36:58):
Right?
Speaker 3 (36:58):
Yes, it's one of my favorite days in sports.
Speaker 4 (37:01):
I usually tweet about it, but when the grass is
all full, because at the end of the two weeks
there's it's just worn out on the baseline.
Speaker 1 (37:08):
Yes, yes, I agree, I agree.
Speaker 7 (37:16):
This is game time on the Doug Gottlieb Show. What
you love from the weekend? What'd you hate from the weekend?
Nobody better at hating than Jason Stewart will find out
we all loved and hated.
Speaker 1 (37:27):
Next than The Doug Gotlieb Show.
Host
Doug Gottlieb
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